House Bill No. introduced by F. Nave establishes the legislature's intent to reorganize existing elementary and high school districts into K-12 school districts within current high school district boundaries. The bill mandates that by July 1, 2029, all elementary school districts must be consolidated with their respective high school districts to create a single contiguous K-12 district. County superintendents of schools are tasked with collaborating with school district trustees and administrators to develop a reorganization plan, which must be reported to the education interim committee by March 1, 2026. This report should include details about existing school districts, board compositions, financial concerns, and a timeline for the reorganization.
Additionally, the bill includes provisions for codification, indicating that the new section will be integrated into Title 20, chapter 6, part 4 of the Montana Code Annotated. The act is set to take effect immediately upon passage and approval.